BEREA, Ohio—Tom Heckert was expecting to get two impact players for his secondary when he made Joe Haden and T.J. Ward his first two drafts picks as general manager of the Browns in 2010. Defensive coordinator Dick Jauron put it best today when he said, “We really need both of them to perform at a high level, this year and in the future.”

Haden played at a fairly high level as a second-year pro in 2011, but not quite as well as had been hoped. He struggled to make the transition from Rob Ryan, his coordinator in 2010, to Jauron last season.

The Browns are counting on Joe Haden to be the big-play cornerback they drafted out of Florida. (AP Photo)

Now he has had a a full season and an offseason with Jauron. He has been practicing with confidence and intense energy. At times, Browns receivers give up on trying to get open against him. He has gotten better at using his hands in the first five yards. He has improved his route recognition skills and is incredibly quick in terms of following his instincts and smothering receivers. He has enough speed and technique to stay with even the best deep receivers most of the time.

He had some trouble with A.J. Green the second time the Browns played the Benagls in 2011. That should be a great AFC North matchup for years to come.

The Browns dodged a bullet when Haden avoided a suspension—for now, at least—after testing positive for Adderal.

Ward brings a blustery personality to the strong safety job, but a foot injury wrecked the second half of his 2011 season. He is great in the box but must prove he is athletic enough to cover fast backs and tight ends. He dreams big, thinking he can bring the kind of voltage Troy Polamalu and Ed Reed have to division rivals.